RUMOR – Will Disney turn Spaceship Earth into a Roller Coaster?!

Strap in for another round of Disney rumors. This one is truly frightening, and I hope it never comes to pass. Are you sitting down for this?

Disney might consider gutting Spaceship Earth and turning it into a roller coaster.

Say what?!

No, your eyes do not deceive you. There’s a rumor going around that with the sweeping changes coming to Epcot’s Future World, nothing is sacred — not even the “big golf ball.”

ADVERTISEMENT. Article continues below.

The word from some insiders on WDW Magic is that the reason the details of the re-imagined Future World released at D23 were so spartan is that Disney is still deciding what stays and what goes.

One well-known insider — marni1971 — says that one of the ideas currently being kicked around involves “irreparable damage” to the park. “In five years the area known as Futureworld could be a shell of its former self. Literally. We’re on the cusp of possible irreparable physical damage being done to the park. Like a few other things if it happens you’ll know what I mean. (…) There’s more that’s proposed demolition-wise than just Innoventions. I can’t say more for now but that’s what I mean about irreparable damage.”

Speculation has ensued as to what could be such a terrible loss to Future World to be deemed “irreparable damage.” The first thing that came to the minds of many was the park’s icon, Spaceship Earth.

“But Disney would never do something stupid to Spaceship Earth,” you say.

ADVERTISEMENT. Article continues below.

“It’s the park icon,” you say.

“And it was featured in the Future World blue sky D23 concept art,” you say.

“Blue Sky” artwork of the re-imagined Epcot Future World from D23. (Disney)

Enter Project Gemini

Earlier this month, we talked about Project Gemini. It was a proposed overhaul of Epcot from the early 2000s that never came to fruition (not completely) but shared a lot of similarities with this “blue sky” artwork. Among those similarities were an open central spine, a “hedge maze” and an Amazon rain forest area near The Land pavilion that may or may not contain a family thrill ride.

Some of the proposed changes did come to pass, such as Soarin’ coming to The Land pavilion and IP being added to The Living Seas (but it was Finding Nemo, and not The Little Mermaid as originally proposed. Finding Nemo was not yet released when Project Gemini was on the drawing board.)

But another wild proposal did not come to pass… yet.

Time Racers: The Spaceship Earth Roller Coaster That Never Was

Yes, some people at Disney felt Spaceship Earth was much too slow of an attraction for today’s audiences and wanted to kick it up a few notches. The plan would retain the trip through time theme, but it would be at a breakneck pace… a roller coaster race through human history.

Here’s what Disney insider Jim Hill had to say about it circa 2003…

So what’s the name of the exciting new attraction that will zooming around inside Spaceship Earth once October 2006 rolls around? “Time Racers,” Epcot’s latest and greatest thrill ride, sponsored by Microsoft. And what’s “Time Racers” supposed to be like? More importantly, what’s this attraction supposed to be about? Well, you can say “good-bye” to that herky-jerky omni-mover trip through the Ages of Man that AT&T used to sponsor. The next attraction to make its home inside “The Ball” will literally send Epcot visitors racing across time. Using time lapse photography as well as cutting edge technology, the Imagineers hope to give WDW guests the impression that they’re fast-forwarding through all of human history. Rocketing forward from the time when we were all still living in caves right up today’s modern age … and beyond.

Obviously, it didn’t happen. A few years later, Siemens sponsored Spaceship Earth and the attraction was safe (save for a new narration and a lame ending.)

Oh, but Siemens is gone.

It means anything is on the table, and those “park icons” aren’t terribly sacred to Disney. Because…

RIP Great Movie Ride

Yes, Disney suddenly pulled the plug on The Great Movie Ride after their contract with TMC was up. It happened quickly and without much warning. We sounded the warning bells a few months ago, and people laughed.

“It couldn’t happen,” they said.

“It’s the park icon,” they said.

“It’s the last opening day attraction, and they wouldn’t dare,” they said.

“Stop making up stupid rumors!” they yelled.

Well, who’s laughing now? The last time I checked our Facebook page, there were quite a few tears over the loss of The Great Movie Ride.

But time “races” on. And time may be running out for the Spaceship Earth we’ve come to know and love.

You’ve been warned.

Other Candidates for “Irreparable Damage”

Alright, so they may spare Spaceship Earth. Maybe we’ll just get a much needed update including a new narrator (I vote for Morgan Freeman) and a return of the classic descent. Let’s be optimistic here.

So what other “park icons” could be on the receiving end of Bob Chapek’s bulldozer?

Living with The Land

You know, Living with the Land went down for a few days over the weekend. Something about a tree falling. Or maybe it was a survey crew taking some time to measure for new drapes? It’s doubtful that The Land pavilion would go away completely because it houses Soarin’, but you can’t see it in the new concept art. Unless Soarin’ stays and they somehow knock the rest of the pavilion down around it…?

Journey Into Imagination

The attraction is a ghost of its former glory, and rumors have been around for years that point to it being replaced by Inside Out… or being demolished completely to make way for something new. Again, I can’t make out this pavilion in the concept art, so it might be going away. Whatever the case may be, don’t look for a return of Dreamfinder anytime soon. Although its what most parks fans want more than anything, Disney is all about IP these days. Unless Dreamfinder stars in a movie that makes a billion at the box office, it’s unlikely that he’ll ever get his ride back and will be relegated to retro Epcot merchandise forevermore.

Something More Insidious?

Maybe there are some other plans afoot for Epcot that we’re not aware of? Whatever the case may be, it set off some alarms with Disney insiders. So it must be something huge.

Epcot is not Hollywood Studios. It’s never been in such a dire state that they had to scrap nearly everything and start over. It just needs some attention, some updates. I’m hoping Disney keeps what works and strikes a balance between keeping oldschool fans and young families with children happy.

And again, these are all rumors. Take it for what it’s worth. But big changes are absolutely coming to Epcot. Let’s just hope they’re changes for the better.

[Sources: WDW Magic, Jim Hill]

Wanna go to Disney?We recommend Academy Travel, a Disney Platinum Earmarked agency. Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Universal Orlando Resort, Sea World and more -- they can do it all, and at no extra cost to you! Fill out the form below or call 609-978-0740 today!

Where Do You Want to Go? Select Your Destination! *

How Many ADULTS Are Traveling? *

How Many CHILDREN Are Traveling (plus Ages)?

If Children are traveling with you, what will their ages be at the time of travel?

Expected Travel ARRIVAL Date

Expected Travel RETURN Date

Preferred Disney Resort Hotel (Leave Blank if Unsure)

If staying on property, which hotel would you prefer to stay at? Or you can specify Value, Moderate or Deluxe.

Adding Park Hoppers to your Walt Disney World tickets allows you to visit more than one Disney park in one day. Please note that this is an upcharge.

Do You Wish to Visit the Water Parks During Your Stay? (Optional)

Yes

No

Admission to the Water Parks are not included in base ticket option. Please note that this is an upcharge.

Will You Be Participating in a runDisney Event on This Trip? (Optional)

Yes

No

If you plan on participating in a runDisney event during this trip, please let us know!

Have You Used Academy Travel Before? If Yes, Who Was Your Agent? (Leave Blank if No)

If you have booked a vacation with an Academy Travel agent in the past, please let us know who. If not, please leave blank.

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Phone Number *

Additional Comments or Requests (Optional)

Please give us any additional details that will make it easier and faster for us to Quote you! This can include requests for special ticketed events, other special requests, accommodations, celebrations etc. Help us help you make the most of your stay! You can also call (609) 978-0740 and mention this form on The Kingdom Insider.

I've loved Disney as long as I can remember. As a former newspaper editor, web developer, and Disney comics freelancer, I'm able to combine that experience into writing about Disney online. I'm also the co-host of a Disney fan podcast called 'Pirates & Princesses.' Opinions mine.

6 COMMENTS

What’s with the doom and gloom? I love the changes coming to epcot. I was weary about frozen, but that ride is a visual masterpiece. The old Vikings ride needed immense updating though. I am excited for the expansion of France to include the new rat ride! I’m pumped for guardians of the galaxy as Ellen’s universe was greatly outdated and the best part was the dinosaurs. I’m excited for an update to mission to mars, I only do orange and I want something more intense! I think a rollercoaster inside the ball is a great idea, I’m a millennial, we want thrill rides. Family rides are great, but see cedar point, kings island, and six flags magic mountain to name a few, we demand coasters.

Oh, I don’t think it’s all “doom and gloom” but Spaceship Earth is a much more beloved attraction than Universe of Energy. It’ll definitely ruffle feathers if Disney decides to turn it into a thrill ride. It’s a big “if” but there’s precedent. They wanted to gut it 15 years ago.

Epcot is about innovation, science, exploration the future. It’s about time to redefine that space with a modern ride. I understand that this ride is historic and iconic, but it’s not exactly driving the ticket sales. I thought about a roller coast the last time I was on was on Spaceship Earth, it makes sense. Something like Space mountain mixed with rockin roller coast or add VR.

If Dis he changes Spaceship Earth into a roller coaster, it would not only ruin the ride, it would appeal much less to families, and depending on the intensity of the roller coaster, it might not be much of a family ride anymore, plus, it would try to compete with Eurostar, which isn’t so much of a family ride, as it is for bigger kids or tweets and up, and with the exception of Mission Space Mars, the some of the rides including Spaceship Earth are supposed to appeal to families. I know what you might be thinking, but I’m not a wimp, and I’m planning on going to Magic Kingdom, and some of the rides will be roller coasters I’m going on, (including Space Mountain), but Spaceship Earth is supposed to be a slow and relaxing ride, Disney’s rumored to ruin the audience of Spaceship Earth. Yet with retheming/replacing Attractions into/with Disney movie themed attraction, they’re turning Epcot into Ipcot (Intellectual Property Community/City Of Tomorrow). They’re ruining the parks and attractions for their money-making marketing scheme. They’ve been desperate just since 2000.